Chris Dorner

$1 Million Reward ...

Big Loophole

2/13/2013 10:25 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Several private citizens were instrumental in cornering cop killer Christopher Dorner ... but there may be a gigantic loophole preventing any of them from collecting the loot.

There are 3 rewards. The Mayor of L.A. announced a $1 million reward -- funded by private groups -- for information leading to the "capture and conviction" of Dorner. Big problem -- technically speaking, Dorner must be both captured AND convicted to trigger the reward.

The L.A. City Council offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to "the identification, apprehension, and conviction" of Dorner. Again ... no conviction. City Council sources tell us there's already a disagreement between the Legislative Analyst and the City Attorney over how to interpret the reward language.

And finally ... the L.A. County Board of Supervisors offered a $100,000 reward for information "leading to the capture of Christopher Dorner." One source at the Board of Supervisors tells TMZ, "Dorner was cornered but not captured."

Translation ... technically speaking, no one may be entitled to the reward. It's unclear if the Mayor, the City Council and the Board of Supervisors will bend the rules.